A sporting event under the banner of “Sports for Conservation” is being organized by Society for Mahseer Conservancy from the 22^nd to 26^th January, 2010 in the lovely Baluli village, on the banks of the lifeline of Corbett Tiger Reserve (CTR)–the river Ramganga. Sport is a very effective tool in the cause of wildlife conservation, particularly for the youth since it promises thrilling action while sermons and speeches take a backseat!

The first day of the event is dedicated to the girls, with games like kho-kho, kabbadi and rope pulling testing their mettle. A cricket tournament is planned for boys in the next three days. The last day has been earmarked for the prize distribution ceremony where the winning teams for each game will be awarded.

The sporting event will also boast a photography exhibition on the Indian vultures; the Ramganga river and its biodiversity; and the ill-effects of unsustainable tourism in the CTR area.

You are warmly urged support this event in person; either as a gung-ho participant or as a vociferous audience to encourage the various teams.

Please find above the fact sheet enumerating details for participation, logistic arrangements and available mechanisms for supporting this innovative initiative.

We look forward to seeing you at Baluli!

Feel free to call or write for clarifications.

Cricket players of 2006 tournament

The upper Ramganga is a typical Himalayan river with deep pools and glorious runs. Fishing is permitted along a 24 km upstream stretch—a delight for serious anglers who rate this stretch as one of the best organized in India for sport-fishing for mahseer, goonch, Indian trout and the lesser known kalabasu.

This part of the western Himalayas boasts a unique bio-geographical identify with a distinct icthyofaunal assemblage. There have been very few studies conducted on the ecology of freshwater fishes in this region. The most recent survey conducted by the Wildlife Institute of India in 2005, recorded 43 species belonging to six orders and nine families of fish in this river system. Each July, the monsoon transforms the river into a destructive spate. However, the now replenished nutrients ensure that the riverine system continues to flourish ad nauseam.

The fishing beats teem with clever Golden mahseer and goonch, while the old forests with elephants and great hornbills—testimony to the protection afforded to the Corbett National Park since the end of 18^th century for the Lieutenant Governor’s yearly shoots.

The Ramganga upwards of the Marchula bridge shimmies past scattered villages adorned with terraced fields and small temples. This 50 km stretch right up to Jainal boasts interesting fishing opportunities with gillies willing to hike their way walks to very remote areas far from habitation, and holding a rudimentary campsite or temple premise as a base, fish in some of the best spots adjoining sites.  The Hindu reverence for life has preserved the pristine nature of these regions and the locals have welcomed our philosophy of catch-and-release sport fishing.

The Ramganga is also home to the rare and endemic fish-eating gharial and mugger and a paradise for Otters—the Common, Smooth-coated and Small-clawed otters make the most of their larder which is well-stocked with turtles!

Avian predators that thrive in this river paradise are Pallas’s, Grey headed and Lesser fishing eagles, majestic osprey, several species of cormorants, darters, herons, five species of kingfishers and several other waders.

You can have the satisfaction of scooting away for a quick 2 day fishing excursion (from Delhi and near by regions) or spend a languorous 20 days sport-fishing—and never at the same spot!

A jeep safari is a good way to see the sights

One hundred years ago, India’s tigers numbered around 40,000, yet within decades the Royal Bengal Tiger faced extinction. Although hunting was outlawed in 1970, the survival of the species was threatened by continuing loss of habitat and by poaching.

Enacting the Wildlife Protection Act in 1972, India’s central government established the first nine tiger reserves, including Corbett and totalling 16,000sq km, across India.

Reserves now number 27 and encompass more than twice that initial land area.

Project Tiger has doubled India’s tiger population whilst safeguarding much of the gene pool and habitats for wildlife generally, although some argue that some smaller reserves are not viable populations.

As at Corbett, Tiger Reserves consist of a core, a heartland shielded from forestry, grazing and other disturbances. Buffer zones supplement the habitat and allow multiple uses, including pre-existing villages and forestry operations.

Project Tiger http://projecttiger.nic.in

Fact File

Corbett National Park is six hours drive east of Delhi. Overnight trains also serve Ramnagar, which offers a range of accommodation including the comfortable but bizarrely designed Country Inn Tree Tops, one of many hotels along the Ranikhet road.

Corbett Museum is 32 km from Ramnagar on the road to Nainital.

More information: Lonely Planet’s encyclopaedic India guide.

“Tiger is giving us dodge”, declares wildlife guide Hem Bahuguna, calling a halt near some tell-tale pug marks (pawprints) and scrapings. As the engine cools, then stills, we hear only the birds, the soft breeze and the distant chattering of monkeys. From time to time, another jeep materialises, stopping to exchange a few words. Otherwise, here in India, most crowded of nations, there is perfect peace.

Corbett is India’s first, perhaps finest, Tiger Reserve and is buffered by surrounding tracts of country. You can spend days chasing tigers or cast a line to tempt the golden mahseer. The Ramganga Reservoir provides year-round water for the animals and spawning grounds for the golden mahseer, which migrates upstream.

Tall stands of teak, with its strikingly wide leaves, and the equally imposing sal clothe the hillsides, and wide gravel river beds traverse expanses of waving grass. Gharial, the snouted crocodile, coexist alongside the mugger crocodile and the otter. Sambar, chital or spotted deer and the solitary muntjac or barking deer are all readily spotted, especially when browsing in the grasslands. Less visible, the wild boar, sloth bear and tiger all record their passing with spoor – paw prints and droppings.

The eco-friendly Vanghat River Lodge in the Corbett Tiger Reserve

Panthers, although endangered, continue to be sighted in the hill country – but, Bahuguna admits gloomily, Indian authorities have recently confiscated quantities of contraband skins.

Macaques or rhesus monkeys, the males’ buttocks comically inflamed during the present mating season, together with the larger langurs, enliven otherwise still forests.

At least, 500 of India’s 1,300 known bird species are recorded at Corbett: a hoopoe browses boldly; a lone rose-winged parakeet stands out against bare boughs.

Bahaguna has set up a pre-dawn rendezvous at Amdanda Gate, outside the town of Ramnagar. A pallid pink orb begins to burn through the mists which rise above forest and grassland as the jeep reaches Bijrani camp, where day-visitor facilities operate.

By noon, we have jolted across innumerable gravel river beds, wound up into the dappled shade of sal forest and back down again, and climbed a watchtower on the edge of a broad river valley. We have examined the bark torn and chewed by elephants, noting the bushes trampled by these huge and demanding creatures. Tiger pug marks and droppings beside the track indicate the age and health of the animal.

Tigers often prove elusive, but park director Rajiv Bhartari will explain why this is no cause for concern. At Corbett, an estimated 143 tigers range across 1,218 square kilometres of rugged terrain. This population density is considerably lower – and therefore healthier – than at some of the better-known reserves in western India.

Scientists are conducting a tiger census, and the numbers are coming in well above expectations.

Villagers in the community established by celebrated tiger hunter Jim Corbett

Jim Corbett, author of the best-selling Man-Eaters of Kumaon, became a larger-than-life figure in the Himalayan hill country before World War II. The British hunter tracked down and killed 50 man-eating tigers and more than 250 leopards which had terrorised local villagers, but believed that a taste for human flesh was developed only by ageing or wounded tigers. His concern for the tiger’s survival led to the reservation of what would become today’s Corbett National Park: the starting point in 1973 for the groundbreaking Project Tiger.

The hill people of Kumaon remember Jim Corbett not only by the reservations which bear his name, but for his dedication to the welfare of his tenant farmers for whom he created a model village at Kaladhungi. Choti Haldwani, Corbett’s bungalow where the life-long bachelor lived with his sister Maggie, has been preserved as a museum, whilst a walking trail meanders through the mustard seed and sugar canefields of his former estate.

I ain’t got time I got a race to run

He is responsible for developing a framework for ecotourism in Corbett-Binsar-Nainital region of Uttarakhand in Himalayas through a Multistakeholder and participatory process as a LEAD Fellows Project. He has been on the board of directors of the The International Ecotourism Society (TIES). Mr Bhartari has been to many a protected area in almost every continent and has closely observed management and interpretation there. This has been intelligently indigenised to be a part of Indian Wilderness. In India he has conducted a series of ecotourism workshops in different parts to raise awareness and galvanize debate on issues connected with ecotourism and fragile biodiversities.

He is a member of the IUCN World Commission on Protected Areas and has been closely involved with formulation of guidelines and capacity building in the eco-development programmes for involving in biodiversity conservation and in launching awareness and interpretation programmes both at Corbett and at Wildlife Institute of India (WII). During his deputation to the Wildlife Institute of India (WII), as Professor he has taught besides other conservation related subjects research and projects in ecotourism to future forest officers. He has served as Divisional Forest Officer of the Social Forestry Division in the Bulandshahar District and as Conservator of Forests, Bhagirathi Circle.

A legendary veteran of Corbett, he gave us valuable inputs on conservation of the Ramganga  River and on its monarc the Golden Mahseer and ethical ways of fishing. Brijender Singh, or just Brij has been the Honorary Warden of Corbett Tiger Reserve since 1982. He was recently awarded the Esso Award. The award recognizes the efforts of an individual or an organization for bravery, valor and lifetime dedicated to Tiger Conservation. Popularly known as Raja sahib he belongs to the royalty of Dada Siba in Himachal Pradesh and Kapurthala. Influenced by the well known hunter Colonel ANW Powell (Author of, The call of the Tiger) he was an avid hunter till the late sixties but he gave it up and instead became a staunch protector of wildlife and a keen nature photographer, this time much like the legendary Jim Corbett.

In the mid-1980s, he was also appointed as a member on the Indian Board for Wildlife, and the Steering Committee of Project Tiger and is its longest serving member. He was instrumental in many of the expansion plans of the Project Tiger Reserves, national parks and sanctuaries throughout the country, and trans-location of the great one horned rhinos from Assam to Dudhwa. During his tenure Corbett Tiger Reserve increased from a 520 sq km to its present 1,319 sq km with the addition of the Sonanadhi Sanctuary and adjoining buffer areas. This has ensured safe future for many migratory species particularly elephants. He has been instrumental in established Benog in Mussoorie, though sanctuary may still be hosting the Himalayan Quail a bird mysteriously lost to science.

He spends most of his time patrolling and organizing logistics in the Corbett Tiger Reserve. His wife Dawn has started a small school at Dhikala.

He started the career with The Corbett Foundation, NGO that works for Wildlife Conservation. Main job responsibilities were to spread conservation awareness amongst locals. During the job with The Corbett Foundation worked with several schools and did many awareness programmes on regular basis with them. Worked with villagers and local communities for wildlife conservation and helped the tiger conservation programme of WWF-India, Mahaseer Conservation Programme of EPAC International and Medical Programme. (all above programme are the programmes of The Corbett Foundation). Helped in publication of quarterly Hindi and English newsletter on Corbett (published by The Corbett Foundation). Worked with Kids for Tigers Programme (Sanctuary Asia) as city coordinator. Worked with various other NGOs and Government departments during various occasions like wildlife week, animal census programme etc. Gave many conservation awareness talks to the Forest trainees of Kalagarh Training Centre, Corbett Tiger Reserve. Helped various students in their studies during their visit to Corbett.

Sanjay presently works with the Leisure Hotels and heads the Leisure Green team which does many cleaning drives in the area, wildlife awareness programmes in schools, and through the slide presentations try to raise awareness amongst tourists. Sanjay writes conservation related articles in daily newspaper and magazines and has never said no when we at SFMC gave a shout for some work.

Kindly visit Sanjay’s website for more info on www.jungleecorbett.com

He then moved to Delhi and was introduced to a whole new world here. The diversity in the forests in India just struck him. When he first went to Vanghat near Corbett, he was captured by the beauty of the landscape. The winding rivers, the beautiful sunsets, the alarm calls… it was as if life was meant to be that way.

Man-animal conflict : herd of elephant walking in villagers' fields

His regular visits to Corbett National Park and Uttarakhand has further stoked his passion for conservation. Carbon credits has captured his interest since then as an economic incentive for large scale conservation. He has been involved with carbon auditing pilot projects in Warangal, A.P and generating sustainable revenue from the resulting carbon credits. He is looking to extend this to Corbett as well, primary through large scale adoption of solar power and other eco-friendly means. He is confident that this model of conservation will prove beneficial for both man and animal and to the earth as a whole.

The following poem summarizes his feelings for the jungles:

There is pleasure in the pathless woods,

There is rapture on the lonely shore,

There is society where none intrudes,

By the gushing river and the music on its roar;

I love not man the less, but Nature the more

adaptation of a poem by Lord Byron

“I hope my future generations will get to experience what I have, if not more. These jungles just deserve to stay!”

Wildlife photographers, film-makers, this naturalists couple  have adopted Corbett Tiger Reserve as their main area of work since 2004. During this period, they have worked with the park authorities to promote healthy tourism in Corbett National Park through the medium of short films and their photographs. Their film – Wild Saga of Corbett – is the most comprehensive travelogue on Corbett and showcases how tourists can come better prepared for their visits to Corbett and thus help in conservation efforts of the people of Ramnagar and the forest department. The film – marketed and distributed by the Bombay Natural History Society along with the nature shops in and around Corbett Tiger Reserve – has been receiving an excellent response from tourists.